💽 Murder by Numbers: Original Game Soundtrack | Vinyl Review 💽 @m_sugimori @blackscreenrec #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl #VGMVinyl

Artist - Masakazu Sugimori

Available at: https://blackscreenrecords.com

Released to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Mediatonic’s visual novel meets investigative puzzler Murder by Numbers, this catchy and energetic soundtrack features all of Masakazu Sugimori’s compositions on a double vinyl release, created by and available from Black Screen Records.

The album really covers a lot of sonic ground and dances between genres; but always has a sense of cohesion caused not only by the warm production but the sense of melody and a musical approach that feels intrinsically Japanese. 

Presented on two 180g vinyl – one purple and the other a vibrant yellow – held in a gatefold style cover and contained within anti-static sleeves (always a bonus), the cover itself shows Honor and Scout (the main protagonists) as well as a handful of other characters from the game against a background that echoes the purple colour of the vinyl within.

This is all framed as if in a section of film stock, furthering the sense that this is a narrative-driven game. I’d also like to point out the very ‘Phoenix Wright-esque’ pose sported by Honor on the cover, you KNOW that is a pose that will be familiar to players of Murder by Numbers!

Opening up the gatefold, the inside rocks a very ‘90s vibe with that shade of purple again making a reappearance as well as some shapes and styles that wouldn’t look out of place if used as a background in the Mega Drive classic Toejam and Earl. Overlaying the patterns are cut-out sketches of scenes and characters from the game.

The back of the record continues the film cell styling and lists the tracks on each side – 29 in all.

Side A:

Honor’s Theme – A brief track that launches the album off with a youthful, poppy start. You can almost hear a woman’s voice ringing out over the top singing life-affirming lyrics about reaching out and touching the sky, etc. This opener feels like the intro music to a bright and colourful anime show – a breezy start, considering the title and subject matter of the game!

Gridmoore Studios – A Case Close to Home – Still keeping that cheerful tone, this track has a busy breakbeat synth drum pattern with keys weaving all over the top. The bass has a ‘cyber’ quality to it that really stands out and gives the track a grooving low-end. Continuing the rush of positivity, albeit with a touch of melancholy.

SCOUT’s on the Case – A more classic and almost 16-bit vibe to this one. It could easily be the music used in an early stage of one of the Mega Drive Sonic the Hedgehog games – so basically, it’s really, really good. The tracks thus far are very much all sunshine and good times!

Turning Tides – As the title suggests, this is certainly a turning point in terms of mood. Shifting to a twinkling piano accompanied by a low violin, this piece leans towards a more thoughtful tone, smattered with a constant xylophone rhythm to add a brightness to the top end that cleverly amplifies the sense of slight sadness.

Scouring the Scene – Modern beats meet piano in this rhythmically very stop-start track. The short and yet hypnotic loop gives me the sense that this is used a lot in the game and the great twist on the second revolution is so good that it’s almost Animal Crossing-levels of re-listenable, a short and yet oddly moreish track – keep an eye out for some cheeky bass licks.

Detective Cross – Justice Takes Time – An instant standout track for me; with a loungey vibe and brushes-on-drums jazz action. This would have been right at home on Side Pocket on the Mega Drive – which is absolutely fine, as that game has one of my favourite soundtracks and is burning for a vinyl release, in itself! - A gorgeous, smoky song that really pops out with a  cool, easy swing.

Puzzle – The Unbeatable Duo – This one has a lot in common with the first two tracks, a blind sense of positivity through the lens of bright and bubbly melodies that roll along cheerfully, a real mood-lifter.

Side B:

Crisis Comes – Kicking in like a countdown timer on a game show, the tension is ramping! Slowly a beat comes in alongside some wailing, milky guitar bends but that central focus on a timer ticking quickly away never leaves the core of the track.

K.C. – Artiste Extraordinaire – Another burst of feel-good vibes, this time giving me the sense of a high-score screen after a particularly solid level run. The synth bass locks the groove down whilst chirpy keyboard melodies chime out over a fuzzy, restrained guitar riff.

Memories of Dad – A slower-paced track that makes an impact through that shimmering bass riff and airy, melancholic notes. The bass-drum heavy beat gives a plodding, lethargic and mellow vibe that the other instruments play over. This really does capture the sense of a nostalgic memory, but the sense of melody keeps the track from feeling overly maudlin. I do love that bass.

Puzzle – The Digital Detective – The second puzzle section, this track has a brisk beat and some more guitar solo action tied to a joyous sensibility that called to mind Dreamcast-era Sonic games, especially in how the melody resolves itself.

A Dark Turn – This really drew me in upon first listen. The breakbeat pattern and use of unsettling ambience makes it stand out in the tracklisting and captured my imagination. The production of the album also caught my attention at this point, there’s a fullness and warmth to the records but they also feel very defined. With the darkness here, this brief track illustrates the depth of variety in the musical genres touched upon.

Eccentrics -R-Us – Full of boinging samples and strange trills and whistles, this feels like a toybox being opened, but as opposed to feeling experimental and silly in nature, the circus melodies and craftmanship lock into a beat and keep it from feeling throwaway, even if it is delivered with a smile and a wink.

Orpheus Theater – Anyone Who’s Anyone – Back to the jazz! Roomy snare work, syncopated ride-tinging, piano runs and upright bass equals a good time for me. Feeling like a sister track to Justice Takes Time, this drives home just how much I love the Japanese approach to jazz in the VGM world.

Puzzle – On the Right Path – waka-waka guitar and muted trumpet samples over rimshots on the snare keep an edge of jazz, but this track feels held back. Again – it’s on a puzzle section so a clever move to hem things in so as to not be distracting in a section of the game that requires the player to use their grey matter. Although it’s restrained, that doesn’t mean it’s boring! Some lovely runs here on the piano and bass, a definite toe-tapper.

Side C:

The Starshine Awards – A marching snare and rousing horn section give this track a sense of reverence and celebration with certain melodic parts harking back to the opening track (Honor’s Theme), the single note piano and violin all feels very classic – and in some sections, almost RPG-esque.

Becky –Center of Attention – A very modern sounding and beat-driven track, elements of techno take the ‘center of attention’ here. The track introduces heavily treated guitar and a springy bass but it’s that driving beat that cuts through, the most danceable track yet.

We’ve Got Them! – rising, panicked violin and a pulsing synth drumbeat give a sense of a chase sequence here or at the very least a sense of escalating tension and panic. Distant guitar drops in and out as horns and piano pepper the latter half of the track.

Jena – Misplaced Loyalties – cascading piano and milky guitar accompanied by violin make a whimsical and ghostly mix. I also tip my hat to the almost Commodore 64 SID chip effects that colour the song, Sugimori knows how to win my heart!

Magellan’s – A Port in the Storm – the introduction throws us right back to the ‘80s, bubbling organ, a throbbing beat and some head-popping melodies come sailing through in a short time. I really liked the tone of this, and the backbeat is an absolute winner, especially when the track reaches the chorus and really starts funking things up. Most tracks hang around the 2-minute mark and fade out, there are some like this and the jazzier sections that I could happily listen to on repeat for quite some time.

Carefree Days – In terms of mood we are now leaning more toward the start of the album with the poppy, breezy sounds returning. Very much a song that could be blaring out as one drives to the beach with the windows down.

The Only Way is Forward – A great little looped guitar riff kicks this one-off and also acts as the backbone of the track as the building instrumentation around it again feels rousing and celebratory, a short but punchy track.

Puzzle – Got Your Back – Another one that struck me, as I loved the casual guitar, jaunty drums and busy bass. The ‘puzzle tracks’ are quite the little earworms and all seem to have a cool sting in the tail upon the final revolution before the track loops. Good. 

Side D:

One Story Ends, Another Begins - The final side begins with some big piano chords and some buzzy synth melodies before being joined by minimalist drums and some tasty ambient bends. A thoughtful and nicely layered track that doesn’t get too busy. I really liked the use of a volume pedal to nail those emotional swells.

Hypothesis – One Step Forward – some organ, pulsing drums, washy guitar and more volume pedal/violin action gives this track momentum as well as a quietly epic sensibility. Again, subtly tasty bass underneath it all.

Lethe Security – some note bends and peppery percussion alongside some nifty keyboard work almost call to mind a nod to the cyberpunk / Deus Ex style. I’m a sucker for ambient futurist work so this was another track that hooked me. 

Mistakes We Can’t Erase – As the title suggests, this – much like Memories of Dad – feels gentle and thoughtful. A track that muses on past indiscretions and again, does so with an ear to the ground for melodic sensibility, feeling light and airy without coming across as overly sentimental, if a touch on the nose when the mournful synth trumpet makes an appearance. Also, this is the longest track on the album at just under four minutes.

Puzzle – Towards the Truth – This track marks a return to light jazz; keyboard runs with muted trumpet and a skiffle drumbeat calls to mind images of men in rumpled suits smoking in underground clubs as dames bring their drinks. Good. Keep an ear out for when the upright bass makes its mark on the track at around the halfway point.

The Price of Justice – The final full-length track on the album rings in with some low piano, striking violin and a sense of unease broken up by chimes. Soon, this gives way to a punchy bassline that guides the song, removing the unease and replacing it with a weighty coolness before the track returns back around to repeat itself to a fade. 

Honor’s Theme (Vocal Ver.) – A brief reprise of the opening track complete with lyrics that are on the nose in terms of pretty much describing the primary set-up and gameplay loop of Murder by Numbers. There’s a sudden end to this one and it feels more like a little bonus track as opposed to a fully-fledged ending but still, it brings the listener around full circle.

Murder by Numbers is one of the most upbeat records I own, and like all of Black Screen Records’ releases, it’s a high quality, flawless pressing that was delivered swiftly and safely.

Whilst my personal tastes lean more towards the smokier, jazzier and funkier parts of the record, if you love that compulsive energy that comes from Japanese composers through visual novels or are familiar with Sugimori’s work through titles such as the Phoenix Wright series or Viewtiful Joe, then this should definitely grace your collection.